Driving licence reciprocality
 

The following provinces have a reciprocal driving licence arrangement with the UK: Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador

Unfortunately I'm heading for BC! I'm not too fussed about the car licence, that should be easy to sort out. The motorcycle however could be a pain as I may not have the time to do it before winter closes in. By the time winter is over my 3 months driving allowance will be over. I read a posting a couple of months back about the logistical problems of doing your test when you can't legally ride.

So, the question is: can I obtain an Alberta licence for motorcycles and cars and having got that obtain a BC one?

Would I need an Alberta address to do it? Are the BC authorities wise to this "scam" and blocked it somehow?

I have read this article: http://britishexpats.com/articles/ca...cense-alberta/ but it doesn't really help.

According to: http://governmentservices.gov.ab.ca/...peratorLicence it states that "applicants must present immigration and residency documentation", I presume that a work permit would be equivalent?

For those interested in licence classes, they can be found here: http://governmentservices.gov.ab.ca/...LicenceClasses

Your thoughts and ideas will be much appreciated.

Cheers,

Ian.

Re: Driving lincnce reciprocality
 

Hi,

For those reading the post so does New Brunswick.

SAW 04

QUOTE=Chops]The following provinces have a reciprocal driving licence arrangement with the UK: Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador

Unfortunately I'm heading for BC! I'm not too fussed about the car licence, that should be easy to sort out. The motorcycle however could be a pain as I may not have the time to do it before winter closes in. By the time winter is over my 3 months driving allowance will be over. I read a posting a couple of months back about the logistical problems of doing your test when you can't legally ride.

So, the question is: can I obtain an Alberta licence for motorcycles and cars and having got that obtain a BC one?

Would I need an Alberta address to do it? Are the BC authorities wise to this "scam" and blocked it somehow?

I have read this article: http://britishexpats.com/articles/ca...cense-alberta/ but it doesn't really help.

According to: http://governmentservices.gov.ab.ca/...peratorLicence it states that "applicants must present immigration and residency documentation", I presume that a work permit would be equivalent?

For those interested in licence classes, they can be found here: http://governmentservices.gov.ab.ca/...LicenceClasses

Your thoughts and ideas will be much appreciated.

Cheers,

Ian.[/QUOTE]

Re: Driving lincnce reciprocality
 

Where abouts in BC are you heading to Ian? People ride motorcycles all year round on the coast (Victoria & Lower Mainland) and I assume people can take their test, etc during the winter. Could there be a way for you to take the test etc... by travelling to the coast if that's not where you're ending up?

Cute dog. :)

Re: Driving lincnce reciprocality
 

We're going to Golden (Columbia Valley), so we're only 2.5 hours west of Calgary. As it happens I've been meaning to post a message to see if there are any forum menbers in the area....a job for later maybe.

I'm planning on taking my faithful old bike over. It's a Honda Fireblade (so not the sort of thing you want to ride when it's snowy/icy).

We're doing the Business PNP thing (though the '04 Skilled Worker app. will probably come through early next year) so I will be really busy getting it "up and staggering".

No doubt I can get the bike insured and usable within a few weeks but I would rather bypass the aggravation and cost if possible! Failing that I will just do it next spring.

The "cute" dog is coming too, she came with us when we had a 3 month holiday there last winter.

Cheers,

Ian.

Re: Driving lincnce reciprocality
 

Hi Ian

I have sympathy for all of you, as I wouldn't want to do all the retesting again either! From what I understand, you have to show residence in a province prior to obtaining your DL. If you do get a licence somehow in Alberta, you'll pay the costs there... and then again in BC to obtain a BC DL.

I think they have the motorcycle testing running until October sometime, but the cutoff may be earlier in your area, as the snow flies a bit earlier there.

If you haven't already, you might want to check out www.icbc.com

Cheers

Oggy

Re: Driving licence reciprocality
 

We did this, before Manitoba swapped GB licenses. We flew to Toronto for a weekend for Mr B to land, went and swapped our GB licenses in Etobicoke on the Saturday morning using the Delta Chelsea hotel as our address, got the hotel to keep them for us (full photo license is not handed over instantly, gets mailed out 7-ish days later) until we returned 3mths later, then went to MB and swapped the ON ones no problem.

In doing that I gained a full license instead of a graduated one (new driver in UK), and we also gained the all-important merit points towards lower insurance premium by swapping a clean out-of-province license.

ON wants you to notify them of a change of address within 6 days, so they could have argued that we failed to do that, and Manitoba will not exchange a license that has been held for less than 3mths, so timewise it suited us but if BC has the same regs, that may be a problem for you.

Re: Driving licence reciprocality
 

Sounds like you were lucky, Biiiiink! (just how many i's is that?!! lol) Just an add on for anyone moving to BC... you don't have to do the graduated licencing here if you are a seasoned driver.

Cheers

Oggy